Smart and candy-coloured

It costs less than Bt6,000, but is packed with features. Best of all, I liked its sliding keyboard, which was convenient for typing SMS messages, e-mails and Facebook posts.

Actually, the sliding keyboard is a bonus because the Candy is a touch phone with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. It uses the same TouchWiz UI interface used in more expensive Samsung phones.

In the test, the screen responded very well to my finger touch. For example, while reading Web pages, you can easily zoom in or zoom out to make the text larger or smaller by pressing and holding your finger on the screen. Similarly, you can zoom in to a photo on the screen.

Social networkers should love the applications, called widgets, for connecting to MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

I tested the phone on TrueMove's EDGE network and could easily connect to my Facebook page, update my status and link up with Facebook friends.

Unfortunately, the phone did not come with widgets for connecting to my Hotmail account and Windows Live Messenger. Instead, it provides a widget for connecting to Gmail. But I could access my Windows Live Messenger account, or connect to Hotmail, by using the Internet browser provided.

The phone also comes with Wi-Fi connection. I tested it with my home wireless router and connection was a breeze. While on Wi-Fi, downloading applications was very fast.

Another thing I enjoyed about Candy was the earphone. With this good-quality in-ear device, the phone plays music of impressive quality. The phone also comes with a standard stereo jack so you can exercise your own choice of premium headphones to enjoy music from the handset.

One thing I didn't understand was a specification saying the phone was an EDGE device, while the phone's settings allow you to select a UMTS 900/2100 MHz connection, which is a type of 3G connection.

The B5310 is called Candy because its back cover is available in candy-like colours of chrome yellow, festival orange, romantic pink and minimal white, as well as black.

The phone is a little bit bulky and its body is made of plastic, but I think these things are acceptable when considering its low price.

The Samsung Candy is available for Bt5,990 with a free 2GB microSD card.

Key specifications: Samsung GT-B5310 Candy

Network: GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

Display: 2.8 inches, 262K TFT LCD full touch display (QVGA)

Camera: 2 megapixel camera with smile shot

Audio formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+, WMA, AMR

Video playback: H.263, MPEG4, WMV, ASF

Connectivity: Bluetooth v2.1 FS / USB2.0, WAP 2.0

Memory: internal memory of 40MB, expandable with microSD up to 8GB

Battery: 960mAh

Size: 103 x 56.5 x 12.4mm